Three events in one this Sunday - North Sydney takes on Newcastle, it's the last game at North Sydney Oval in the home and away part of the season, and it's North Sydney Old Boys' Day (I think it should be called "Old Bears' Day") organised by the newly formed "North Sydney Old Bears Association".

The match list is on the NS website, as is a media release on Old Boys' Day (both of which are repeated below). There could be some changes to the NS side as South Sydney played last night. The four players named but not used by Souths were Aaron Gray, Jason Clark, Anthony Cherrington and Cameron Murray.

This could even be NS's last game against Newcastle Knights - the NRL has announced that Wests Leagues Club (Newcastle) will be taking over ownership and operations of the Knights - see www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2017/07/22/club_ownership_updat..html. If the ownership change is approved, it'll take effect at the end of October. The new owners **may** look at what teams are fielded in the lower grades.

This will an important game for the Bears, with six teams bunched on the table from 4th to 9th. We could finish the round as high as 4th or as low as 8th:

Illawarra lost its game against Penrith earlier today. There are two other games of relevance today - Wyong v Mounties and Canterbury v Blacktown. (Neither half time score is in our favour unfortunately.) Wenty plays Wests Tigers tomorrow.

Gates open at 12 noon, and there will be two curtain raisers - an U16s club game and an U12s rep game - NS v Tamworth - playing for the Mat Toshack Trophy. That's a name from the past - he made 55 appearances for the Bears from 1992-96. His first name was always spelt with only one "t" - short for "Mathew".

TEAM LIST - OLD BEARS TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR BEARS AS THEY FACE THE NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
July 18, 2017
by Steve Little

The newly formed ‘North Sydney Old Bears Association’ will gather on field prior to the Intrust Super Premiership kick-off in a massive show of support for the Foundation Club.

The recently formed North Sydney Old Bears Association, is a community group for the past & present Players, staff, officials and fans of the North Sydney Bears.

The group will be gathering at the North Sydney Hotel (also known as Percey’s) before crossing Miller Street on mass to support the Bears as they battle eighth placed Newcastle. For more information visit their Facebook page.

The Bears previously faced the Knights in Round Three of competition. A massive win 30-6 was the result played out at McDonald Jones Stadium.

North Sydney Bears Coach Ben Gardiner has named the following team to face Newcastle.

The Intrust Super Match will be preceded by the Matt Toshack Trophy, an under twelves match between North Sydney and Tamworth as well as the Under 16s Combined Junior Competition between Asquith Magpies Vs Avalon Bulldogs.

MEDIA RELEASE – NORTH SYDNEY BEARS OLD BOYS DAY
July 17, 2017
by Melissa Munro

More than 50 former players, coaches and officials from the North Sydney Bears will attend an Old Boys Days this weekend at the Historic North Sydney Oval.

Past and present players and fans will come together on Sunday 23 July for Round 20 of the NSW Intrust Super League. The Bears will take on Newcastle Knights in what will be the Club’s final home game for the season.

North Sydney Bears General Manager, Greg Florimo, said the day is a great way to recognise the wonderful history of the Club: “Being a foundation club and former NRL team, we have a diverse group of supporters. This event allows us to celebrate with our fans our ongoing involvement and commitment to rugby league”.

This event allows us to celebrate with our fans our ongoing involvement and commitment to rugby league”.

“The day provides fans with the opportunity to meet and kick around the footy with some of their idols growing up. This is a unique occasion to mingle with some of our past Bears legends and we’re really proud of the experience we’re creating in our community,” said Mr Florimo.

The day will see some of North Sydney Bears greatest players gather together including:

Fulltime and it's the Bears by 2 with a penalty goal just before the siren after being held scoreless for almost the entire half. NS withstood a massive amount of pressure as the Knights came back strongly.

3:56PM Knights kick off to start the second half.
4:00PM 45' A small melee in front of the Bears' Old Boys, gets the crowd going. Bears 16 Knights 6. [This should be 16-4.]
4:04PM 46' Try to Knights and conversion. Bears 16 Knights 10.
4:11PM 54' Bears error leads to a runaway try to Tom Cronan. Conversion successful, scores level. Bears 16 Knights 16. [The error was that Levido lost possession after he was smashed in a tackle. The ball was scooped up by Newcastle who ran away for a 60m try. However, two of the three members of the commentary team thought that Newcastle knocked on and it should have been called up.]
4:24PM 62' Knights had two sets on the Bears' goal line but the Bears holding strong. Bears 16 Knights 16.
4:30PM No tweet, but NS got a penalty after Levido milked a penalty. Unfortunately, his shot missed although the ball went dead so NS got the ball back after a 20m dropout.
4:32PM 70' Tight tussle between both teams, game in the balance. Bears 16 Knights 16.
4:33PM Again, no tweet, but NS had an overlap on the last but elect to kick. Newcastle got a scrum feed 18m out from its goal line. At the end of the set, a Knights field goal attempt is charged down, it rebounds to a Knights player who knocks on. Whew. It would have been six again had he held the ball.4:37PM With 90 seconds to go, Cameron Murray strips the ball on a one-on-one tackle, and NS immediately gets a penalty after Newcastle do a two-on-one strip. 15m out, to one side of the upright. Yes! The siren goes before kickoff.
4:38PM 76' Penalty to the Bears. Eli Levido makes no mistake. Bears 18 Knights 16.
4:40PM Full Time Bears 18 Knights 16

The score in the other game was Wentworthville Magpies 46 df Wests Tigers 10. The updated table is:

The North Sydney Bears have snuck home 18-16 over the Newcastle Knights in a tense showdown at North Sydney Oval.

Warm sunshine and a light breeze greeted both sides as the home side celebrated Old Boys' day with a number of former players in attendance.

The Bears enjoyed a 16-4 lead at the break but the Knights dominated much of the second half to draw level late on, before an Eli Levido penalty goal in the 80th minute sealed the game.

The teams got through their opening sets error-free in a game of huge importance in the context of their respective seasons.

The Bears had an early sniff at the Knights' line but some solid defence forced centre Ed Murphy over the touchline, and the visitors had an early chance of their own minutes later.

A risky offload came unstuck for the Bears in the eighth minute and then a penalty compounded their woes and the Knights went on the attack from close range.

Yet another penalty saw the visitors camped on the Bears line but the home side were good enough to keep the Knights out.

In the 13th minute a sweeping backline play found the Knights short down their right edge but Bears winger Tuatalatasi Tasi dropped the final pass with the tryline beckoning, but just two minutes later, they took the lead through centre Campbell Graham.

The try was brilliantly converted by Levido, and the home side led 6-0.

The Knights hit back when they found an unmarked Tom Hughes out wide and the winger sprinted to the corner and went over for a well-worked try.

The try wasn't converted and the home side led 6-4 midway through the first half.

Tasi made up for his earlier blunder on the half hour mark, showing great evasion to get on the outside of his man and reach out to plant the ball down in the corner. Levido couldn't add the extras and the Bears led 10-4.

The home side extended their lead with a try to Brett Greinke under the posts, converted by Levido to make it 16-4 with just five minutes left in the half.

The Bears made their intentions known early in the second half when a neat chip to the corner was followed up by some bruising defence which forced the Knights over the touchline, much to the pleasure of the parochial home crowd occupying the Mollie Dive stand.

However the Knights overcame that setback and worked their way downfield to post their second try, Pat Mata'utia brushing off the defence to go over.

Nicholas Meaney added the extras to make it 16-10 after 48 minutes of play.

The Knights turned the tide of the game in the 54th minute when they forced a Bears error on halfway and winger Thomas Cronin swooped on the loose ball and raced away to score beside the posts.

Meaney added the extras to tie the game up at 16-all.

A crucial error by the Bears with less than 20 minutes remaining in the match gifted the Knights a full set just 10 metres out from the line and with the sun setting behind the O'Reilly stand, they went on the attack.

After receiving a penalty the Knights opted not to go for the two, but couldn't come up with a try from the ensuing set, the Bears holding on strongly in defence.

The Bears received a penalty of their own shortly after and gladly took a shot at goal; Levido stepping up but his kick was waved away, leaving the two teams at 16 apiece with time fast running out.

The Bears breathed a sigh of a relief after a Knights field goal attempt was charged down, only for the visitors to regather and enjoy a fresh set, however they dropped the ball on the very first tackle.

Minutes later in a bizarre piece of play, the Knights tried to force a pass coming out of their own end and the Bears grabbed it, and raced towards the line, but the ball came free, ruled to be a strip, much to the joy of the home crowd.

Levido lined up the kick from just to the right of the uprights and this time made no mistake to edge the Bears home 18-16.

Absolutely one of the best days at Bear Park I can remember in recent years...congratulations to all who were involved in Old Boys Day an absolute credit to all players past and present for the part they played in making the day memorable.

So awesome to see the old legends there....Donny McKinnon, John"Mr Intercept" Adam, Billy Hamilton to name but a few.

Most credit to our heart n soul G Florimo....words fail me with this guy....also loved the fact that we kept playing "Stand Aside" instead of the other non football stuff we sometimes hear. It's great to be a Bear!!!!!!